Keep your energy levels and mood high with 20 vitamin-packed, hearty salad recipes that are so colorful, delicious, and big on textures and flavors that you’ll want to serve them for dinner.

It’s not unusual for energy levels to flag and our instinct to hibernate to rise to the surface as we go through grey and cold seasons. That’s why we need some vitamin-packed, hearty salads to boost our mood! This collection of 20 winter salads from food bloggers around the globe focuses on hearty grains, quick-cooking proteins, easy-to-find seasonal veggies, and bright, bold flavors that will keep you energized and fueled up.

Roasted veggies like those you’ll find in the Spicy Roasted Chickpea and Cauliflower or the Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Farro add flavor to winter dishes. 

Bright and zesty citrus fruits add a pop of color and zingy flavors to salads and dressings alike. You won’t be able to resist the Radicchio Orange Pecan Salad or the Citrus, Shrimp, and Quinoa Salad!

Winter salads with quick-cooking proteins like chicken, shrimp, and salmon make it easy to boost your protein intake for long-lasting fuel. Get a boost of mood-improving omega 3 oils with a flavorful Salmon Kale Salad!

Craving sunshine but only seeing gloomy skies? Channel warmer climates into your day with a healthy Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing or a Chicken Gryo Meatball Salad.

Here are 20 healthy and hearty salad recipes—enough to enjoy a different one each week as we await the return of summer. Put your favorite ones on repeat!

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1. Spicy Roasted Chickpea and Cauliflower Salad

by Food Nouveau 

This spicy and zesty chickpea and cauliflower salad is easy to make and ultra-versatile: enjoy it warm or cold, as is, or in a pita. Serve with hummus for an extra creamy touch!

2. Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Farro

by Barley and Sage 

This roasted golden beet salad is the perfect addition to any meal! With roasted beets, farro, goat cheese, and crunchy almonds, it’s hearty enough to serve as a meal on its own or as a side dish with roast chicken or potato leek soup.

3. Winter Squash and Farro Salad

by Windy City Dinner Fairy 

Filled with big flavors and irresistible textures, this winter squash and farro salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette will brighten your table and impress your guests!

4. Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing

by Heartbeet Kitchen 

This striking roasted butternut squash salad is tossed with warm wild rice, spinach, dried cherries, and herbs. The simple maple balsamic dressing is blended with garlic and rosemary, and it naturally soaks into the fresh ingredients, making the dish incredibly flavorful.

5. Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

by The Healthy Epicurean

This deliciously satisfying salad features perfectly roasted acorn squash, wheat berries, feta cheese, and spring greens! This good-for-you, hearty salad will keep you full and satisfied. It has so much flavor, you will fall in love with it!

6. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Pasta Salad

by Home Grown Happiness 

Healthy and delicious, this pasta salad with roasted Brussels sprouts is super quick to throw together, and it’s a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins!

7. Potato Cobb Salad

by My Kitchen Love 

This crowd-pleasing potato cobb salad is served with a delicious, homemade herb and garlic dressing. The recipe includes clever tips and tricks for easy prep and quick clean-up!

8. Radicchio Orange Pecan Salad

by Pardon Your French 

This radicchio orange pecan salad is an invigorating salad to serve over cooler months. Bitter radicchio, fresh baby spinach, juicy orange supremes, toasted pecans, and goat cheese are drizzled with a honey and Dijon vinaigrette, resulting in a delicious mix of bitter, sweet, and savory flavors. This is a colorful, hearty salad to serve over the Holidays or to enjoy as a weekday dinner on its own as well.

9. Red Cabbage, Carrot, and Kale Salad

by Vikalinka 

This colorful, hearty salad is the perfect cure for grey, rainy, or snowy days! Red cabbage, carrots, kale, and pomegranate seeds are dressed with a zesty vinaigrette that highlights delicious seasonal vegetables. As an added bonus, the salad lasts in the fridge without wilting for up to 3 days!

10. Winter Coleslaw Salad

by A Cedar Spoon 

Coleslaw shouldn’t only be served at summer potlucks! This winter coleslaw salad is the perfect salad for a big get-together, the holidays, or even a simple weeknight meal. You will love the combination of kale, radicchio, brussels sprouts, and cabbage in this slaw, which is tossed with a light lemony dressing, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and Parmesan cheese.

11. Classic French Lentil Salad

by Pardon Your French 

If you enjoy fresh, wholesome, hearty salads, this is a great recipe for your repertoire. This classic French lentil salad uses earthy, healthy Puy lentils, carrots, shallots, and herbs drizzled with a quick zippy Dijon vinaigrette. It is affordable, simple to make, and very satisfying. This is a great side dish for hosting, or as a make-ahead recipe for meals on-the-go!

12. Lentil Niçoise Salad

by Food Nouveau 

This lentil niçoise salad features a riot of colors, flavors, and textures that will keep everyone fueled up! This recipe makes an elegant brunch dish, or a fabulous dinner when your diet needs a healthy, flavorful punch.

13. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

by Wholesome Kitchen 

Not only is this Mediterranean quinoa salad beautiful—it’s tasty and good for you too! This salad is satisfying, nutritious, and easy to make with a simple olive oil dressing.

14. Pan-Fried Halloumi Salad with Green Tahini Dressing

by From Scratch Fast 

This pan-fried halloumi salad recipe is a dynamic one-bowl meal. It features seared halloumi cheese and a creamy green tahini dressing that you’ll want to put on everything! The recipe includes a step-by-step video to show you how to pan-fry halloumi as well as helpful tips for serving this vibrant, hearty salad.

15. Marmalade Shrimp and Bacon Salad

by Food Nouveau 

This hearty, colorful salad combines juicy shrimp, salty bacon, crunchy veggies, and zesty clementines with a marmalade dressing that is guaranteed to jolt your taste buds awake!

16. Citrus, Shrimp, and Quinoa Salad

by Simple Bites 

This satisfying citrus salad combines sharp grapefruit, clementine, and lime, with shrimp, quinoa, and feta to produce a fresh and vibrant lunch. If you don’t like shrimp, you can skip it or use thin slices of medium-rare steak instead. For seafood lovers, pair the salad with fresh, seared scallops!

17. Salmon Kale Salad

by Champagne Tastes 

This salmon kale salad is a fall harvest salad made with fresh kale, apples, Parmesan salmon, roasted potatoes and green beans, and an easy tahini dressing. It’s a gorgeous, hearty salad-as-a-meal you’ll want to serve from brunch to dinner!

18. Rosemary Chicken & Roasted Grapes Spinach Salad

by Cook at Home Mom 

This unfussy but elegant grilled chicken spinach salad is topped with roasted grapes, creamy, tangy goat cheese, walnuts, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. This recipe is a delicious alternative to a classic roasted chicken dinner!

19. Chicken Gyro Meatball Salad

by Family Style Food 

This healthy gyro salad with spiced chicken meatballs, chopped fresh vegetables, and lemony tahini dressing makes a super fresh main dish full of bright flavors and rich in proteins. Nobody’s gonna leave the table hungry with this one!

20. Healthy Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

by From Scratch Fast 

This healthy taco salad features warm spiced meat (or beans!), crisp romaine lettuce, loads of toppings and a creamy cilantro dressing. It’s packed with flavor and texture and is way more delicious (and nutritious!) than the “iceberg-and-Fritos” taco salads you might have grown up eating.